Our colleague, Grant Davey, in the Purchase to Pay Team in South Africa needs an operation to remove a non-malignant tumour of the 8th cranial nerve (vestibular schwannoma) growing in the left side of his head.

It is a fairly rare tumour. He and his wife have exhausted all of their financial abilities just in the diagnosis of this condition and have no way of financing the operation he need to try and remove this tumour.

The funds already raised helped to cover the costs of MRI, multiple audio and balance tests, visits to specialists and other expenses related to the tumour. As soon as he has enough money raised then he can arrange the operation.

This tunour is found in about 20 of a million people and only makes up 10% of brain tumours. It normally causes hearing loss on the side it develops over a long period of time. He has lost most of his hearing in the left ear already linked to SSHL (sudden sensonearo hearing loss). He now suffers from vertigo and un-equilibrium. In March this year his bottom left lip started going numb. After an MRI on 18th April this year they discovered it was a tumour.

Because the tumour is still classified as small the best option is to operate and remove it. The other options are a very specialised radiation treatment called a gamma knife but it has the potential of causing complication later in life.

The operation is normally a 10+ hour brain surgery. It is incredibly complicated and specialised. There is only one team in South Africa that have the necessary experience to perform this operation and that’s what makes it expensive (34,000 EUR).

During the operation they will monitor his facial nerve continuously to make sure they don’t damage it and remove the tumour without traumatising it to much.

Please do what you can to help our colleague Grant raise funds for this operation.